What is the term PSORIASIS?

History:
Psoriasis is an Inflammation skin disorder that most commonly appears edematous skin lesions covered with a silvery white scale.

Flares may be related to systemic or environmental factors, including life stress events and infections. .Psoriasis may occur on the oral mucosa, although it is rare.

There are five types of psoriasis:

Plague Psoriasis: It is the most common type of psoriasis. About 70 to 80% of people who develop psoriasis, which appears as patches of raised, reddish skin covered by silvery-white scale. These patches, or plaques, usually form on different parts of body like the elbows, knees, lower back, and scalp.

Inverse psoriasis : A smooth, red lesions form in skin folds.

Erythrodermic psoriasis: There is widespread redness, severe itching, and pain.

Guttate psoriasis: There are small, red spots on the skin.

Pustular psoriasis: White pustules surrounded by red skin.

Psoriasis can be at any age, but is most common in people in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s. It affects both men and women at about the same rate. This disease varies widely from person to person, but is generally not dangerous. but the disease can interfere with normal functioning. In some of the cases, the thick, flaky patches of skin can be itchy, painful, or disfiguring, and if the plaques occur on the feet, It may cause difficulty while walking. People with moderate to severe cases may feel self-conscious about the appearance and have a poor self-image or suffer from depression or Isolation. To take Care for psoriasis is time consuming task, and regular medical attention can be expensive.

Causes
Psoriasis is a one of the oldest skin problems. While scientists are trying to know about the real cause of psoriasis, research has significantly advanced our understanding. One breakthrough began with the discovery that kidney-transplant recipients who had psoriasis experienced clearing when taking cyclosporine. Since cyclosporine is a potent immunosuppressive medication, this indicates that the immune system is involved.

Immune Mediated
Scientist now believes that psoriasis is an immune-mediated condition. This means the condition is caused by imperfect signals in the body’s immune system. It is believed that psoriasis develops when the immune system tells the body to be reactive and increase the growth of skin cells. Normally, skin cells mature and are segregated from the skin’s surface every 27 to 30 days. When psoriasis develops, the skin cells mature in 5 to 6 days and move to the skin surface. Instead of being segregated, the skin cells accumulate , causing the visible injury.

Genes
Scientists have noticed that genes cause psoriasis. These genes determine how a person’s immune system works. These genes can cause psoriasis or another immune-interpose condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or type 1 diabetes. The risk of developing psoriasis or another immune-interpose condition, especially diabetes, increases when a close blood relative has psoriasis.

Family History
Some people who have heredity of psoriasis never develop this condition. Research indicates that a stimulus is needed. Depression, skin injuries, a strep infection, certain medications, and sunburn are some of the known potential initiators. Medications or medicinal substances can initiate psoriasis. These are anti-malarial drugs, beta-blockers (medication used to treat hypertension and heart conditions), and lithium. Dermatologists have seen psoriasis suddenly appear after a person takes one of these medications, gets a strep infection, or experiences another stimulus.

Psoriasis research continues to increase at a rapid pace and will continue to update our knowledge of what causes psoriasis.

Procedures:
 Although most cases of psoriasis are diagnosed clinically, pustulated form, can be difficult to recognize. In these cases, dermatologic biopsy can be used to make diagnosis and analysis.


Treatment
It depends on the severity and its kind. Some psoriasis is so temperate that the person is unaware of the condition. A few develop such severe psoriasis that injuries cover most of the body and hospitalization is required. These represent the severe condition.

Patients with guttate, erythrodermic, or pustular psoriasis may present to the emergency department.

In each of these cases, restoration of the barrier function of the skin is of key concern. This can be cured with cleaning and bandaging.

Plaque and scalp injuries are frequently encountered in patients seeking care for other problems, and initial treatment of the injuries should be offered. Solar or ultraviolet radiation may be helpful. Oatmeal baths is helpful.